How do you feel about Foreign Lang. songs?
- Pie Row Maniac
- Joined: Fri Jan 04, 2002 9:38 pm
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- Soulprayer
- Joined: Tue Apr 29, 2003 12:44 pm
- Location: Cologne, Germany
Well, forget the fact i am German.Scintilla wrote:In Engel, the harsh-sounding German lyrics are used to good effect (lip-synching Asuka to them really works well) even if the audience has no idea what they mean.

Even if the AMV is in French, Chinese or Norwegian it doesn't matter for me.
I think music is the mood of the AMV !
Greetz
Soulprayer
Soulprayer
- Beowulf
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- Kaji01
- Joined: Fri Feb 07, 2003 11:29 am
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- Joined: Mon Jul 21, 2003 9:27 am
- Location: Italy
In my opinion, foreign language videos can be done one of two ways.
First, just treat the vocals as another instrument and synchronize to them. Party on. (This is how I listen to music I don't understand, and since I listen to a lot of Japanese music and don't understand it yet... - this has led to embarrassing situations with people who *do*... "Do you know what you're listening to?")
Or the other method, which is hard to do right...
I've seen AMVs which actually subtitled the words of the song. This is very hard to get right, but if you can pull it off it makes for a very interesting AMV. Just remember that no one is going to be watching the AMV for about the first second or so after you put a new sub up. If you want to play off the words, make sure you start after that.
First, just treat the vocals as another instrument and synchronize to them. Party on. (This is how I listen to music I don't understand, and since I listen to a lot of Japanese music and don't understand it yet... - this has led to embarrassing situations with people who *do*... "Do you know what you're listening to?")
Or the other method, which is hard to do right...
I've seen AMVs which actually subtitled the words of the song. This is very hard to get right, but if you can pull it off it makes for a very interesting AMV. Just remember that no one is going to be watching the AMV for about the first second or so after you put a new sub up. If you want to play off the words, make sure you start after that.

- MaachaQ
- Joined: Sun Jan 07, 2001 12:33 am
I plan to use Opera in one of my future videos, and though I could probably find traslations for the German/Italian/etc., I may just ignore the lyrics altogether. Opera is all about attitude, and the voice of the singer tells the story just as well as the lyrics do, if not better.
The same applies to other foreign-language songs (or even many english songs). As long as the feeling is right, I say go for it.
I have a problem with matching lyrics TOO exactly to the action, so doing something like this should make me a better creator. I believe the emotion the video creates in the viewer should be more important than the lyrics of the song.
The same applies to other foreign-language songs (or even many english songs). As long as the feeling is right, I say go for it.
I have a problem with matching lyrics TOO exactly to the action, so doing something like this should make me a better creator. I believe the emotion the video creates in the viewer should be more important than the lyrics of the song.
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- Joined: Wed Jan 21, 2004 10:34 am
i'm planning to make a Sailor Moon AMV with the Ballet Episode
The music is taken from a German series from a childrens TV channel. The series is called "Bernd das Brot" ("Bernd the Bread") and the main actor is a bread with too short arms. He has sung a blues-song called "Tanz das Brot" ("dance the bread"). Quite funny and the text fits well to the Sailor Moon Episode.
The Problem is that the video would only be funny if you understand the lyrics.
How should I handle the language problem?
- Upload the Video German only and who does not understand German would not understand the jokes
- Subtitle with 1:1 translation (Text translated, but in most cases no rhymes - the German text has rhymes)
- Subtitle with translation that may not be exactly 1:1 but has rhymes
The music is taken from a German series from a childrens TV channel. The series is called "Bernd das Brot" ("Bernd the Bread") and the main actor is a bread with too short arms. He has sung a blues-song called "Tanz das Brot" ("dance the bread"). Quite funny and the text fits well to the Sailor Moon Episode.
The Problem is that the video would only be funny if you understand the lyrics.
How should I handle the language problem?
- Upload the Video German only and who does not understand German would not understand the jokes
- Subtitle with 1:1 translation (Text translated, but in most cases no rhymes - the German text has rhymes)
- Subtitle with translation that may not be exactly 1:1 but has rhymes
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- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2003 2:15 pm
Anyone interested in a finnish song? The whole idea is focused around lyric synch, so uploading it doesn't seem very worthwhile...